Effective Cholesterol Lowering Herbs To Use

Black Pepper

Ordinary black pepper reduces cholesterol levels too. Like many other herbal remedies for cholesterol, black pepper is considered to be an herbal stimulant. It enhances the circulation of the entire body and improves blood pressure.

Fiber-Rich Herbs

Herbs rich in fiber help to rid the body of excess cholesterol. Psyllium, flax seed, and sesame seeds contain high levels of soluble fiber.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is my favorite herb, other than the culinary herbs, to promote the health of the heart and circulatory system. It reduces cholesterol and triglycerides and prevents them from building up in the blood vessels. LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are sticky substances which make blood vessels stiff and narrow. This effect is what precipitates the development of high blood pressure and serious damage to the circulatory system.

Red Yeast Rice

Red rice yeast has been shown in multiple studies to lower cholesterol levels as effectively as statin drugs. Fortunately, red rice yeast does not have the serious side effects which the statin drugs often present. It lowers LDL and triglyceride levels and reduces atherosclerosis.

Artichoke Leaf

Studies indicate that artichoke leaf extract is able to lower LDL cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of cholesterol using a variety of chemical processes.

Guggul

Guggul is an herb from India. It reduces LDL levels while increasing healthy HDL cholesterol levels. Improving the ratio of “good” to “bad” cholesterol is very important for health and longevity.

Using Cholesterol Lowering Herbs

For general management of cholesterol, use the kitchen herbs noted above. If you have elevated VLDL, LDL cholesterol, or triglyceride levels, consider using a supplement.

Check with your health care provider if you have questions or if you are taking medications to lower cholesterol levels.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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